Padayachee is on trial for arming Cape gangs

A Durban arms dealer accused of selling firearms to Cape Flats gangs has pleaded not guilty in the Western Cape High Court and said he will exercise his right to remain silent.

After weeks of delays, Anderson Padayachee, accused of colluding with the notorious Terrible Josters gang by supplying them with firearms for gang attacks, was finally tried before Judge Daniel Thulare.

The owner of Anderson’s Guns and Ammo in Wentworth, Durban, has pleaded not guilty to 66 charges.

These include murder, attempted murder, fraud, breaches of the Firearms Control Act and charges under the Prevention of Organized Crime Act (Poca).

Padayachee was arrested by the Hawks in February 2021 and at the time of his arrest it was revealed that cops had seized 17 illegal firearms in George that had arrived from Johannesburg.

Further investigation revealed that these firearms were allegedly destined for Cape Town skollies.

During the investigation, 44 more firearms were seized from the business.

According to the indictment, Padayachee currently faces eight murder charges and five attempted murder charges for shootings involving firearms he allegedly supplied.

Court documents allege Padayachee assisted Terrible Josters between August 2017 and May 2019.

The cases include several men shot dead in various areas including Bonteheuwel, Kalksteenfontein and Lotus River.

Appearing before Judge Thulare, Padayachee denied all the charges. He did not make a statement in defense, saying that he was exercising his right to remain silent.

Addressing the judge, State Prosecutor Christiaan De Jongh said the state will bring a variety of witnesses, including firearms officers from police stations who will testify about alleged violations by the dealership.

He further explained that although Padayachee was not the actual shooter in the murder or attempted murder cases, the State would prove that he met with gangsters in Cape Town for the illegal sale of weapons, as the State claimed Padayachee should have known about the incident. Guns would be used in gang conflicts.

The State also alleges that R700,000 was paid to Padayachee as a result of smoking with the Terrible Josters.

Court documents include a long list of firearms linked to Padayachee’s alleged violations, including handguns, rifles and shotguns.

Padaychee is also accused of working as an instructor and trainer for a security company without being accredited by the Firearms Registry.

The first State witness called was Mohammed Kolia of Selwel Sports KZN, who gave evidence about the procedures followed when a dealer purchases a firearm.

Padayachee appears to have purchased firearms legally from Selwel and later committed violations.

The trial continues.

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